Name:
Sorghastrum nutans - Andropogon glomeratus - Silphium laciniatum Grassland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This mesic blackland prairie community occurs in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas along lower slopes and areas of relatively high soil moisture. Seepage is common along the lower slopes during periods of high rainfall. Water may pond briefly in localized depressions due to the tight soils. Vegetation is typically thick, 1.8 m (6 feet) tall or greater. This community becomes shrubby with fire suppression. Animals create bare areas for use as mineral licks. Fuel accumulation is rapid. Dominant species include <i>Sorghastrum nutans, Andropogon glomeratus</i>, and <i>Silphium laciniatum</i>. Other herbaceous species include <i>Acacia angustissima</i> (rare?), <i>Centrosema virginianum, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Dalea purpurea, Desmanthus illinoensis, Eryngium yuccifolium, Eupatorium altissimum, Helianthus grosseserratus, Ruellia humilis, Schizachyrium scoparium, Scirpus pendulus, Silphium integrifolium, Oligoneuron rigidum, Tragia urticifolia, Tripsacum dactyloides, Vernonia baldwinii</i>, and <i>Vernonia missurica</i>. The non-natives <i>Lespedeza cuneata</i> and <i>Melilotus officinalis</i> can be abundant in disturbed areas. Woody species, including <i>Sideroxylon lanuginosum, Berchemia scandens, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Cornus florida, Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Quercus muehlenbergii, Rhus glabra, Smilax bona-nox</i>, and <i>Smilax rotundifolia</i>, occur locally during periods of fire suppression, colonizing and growing faster than in the drier blackland prairie communities. High-quality examples of this community type exist at the Terre Noire Natural Area and southern end of the International Paper Blackland Prairie. Additional high-quality examples are located on the Keadle, Brewer, and McElhannon tracts. The type location is in Clark County, Arkansas. Other examples can be found in Howard and Hempstead counties and should be found in Little River, Nevada, and Sevier counties, Arkansas.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35961-{3CFF02F1-A229-4980-B6AE-A289B518A7E6}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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